Barrier for Midsole of a Shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe barrier that covers a midsole on a shoe. The barrier forms a substantially elongated ring shaped band that is dimensioned to encompass the periphery of the shoe at its midsole section. The band includes an inner surface that engages the midsole by wrapping around the longitudinal sides of the midsole, a toebox, and a heel counter. An outer surface of the band protects the midsole against impact, physical damage, scuff marks, scratches, external elements, moisture, and debris. The outer surface can be coated with a chemical composition that inhibits scoffing and scratching to both the band and the midsole. The band is fabricated from a substantially clear polymer composition with clinging characteristics. An elastic member attaches to the top side of the band and secures the band to the midsole.

BACKGROUND

It is known that an athletic shoe is a generic name for the footwear primarily designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise. Attributes of an athletic shoe include a flexible sole, appropriate tread for the function, and ability to absorb impact. As the industry and designs have expanded, the term “athletic shoes” is based more on the design of the bottom of the shoe than the aesthetics of the top of the shoe. The athletic shoes themselves are made of flexible compounds, typically featuring a sole made of dense rubber. The anatomy of a shoe includes an upper body, a midsole, a toe box, a heel counter, and a bottom sole.

The inventor has been wearing high end athletic shoes made of high quality materials and substantially more expensive than the average athletic shoe. Many of his high end shoes had a white or light colored midsole. This lighter coloring was used by the manufacturer to distinguish the shoe from the ground surface and other components of the shoe.

The inventor would often wear the shoes outdoors to clubs, work, and social events. However, he noticed that scuff marks and small deformations to the midsole occurred often. This was a result of normal walking patterns and bumping into objects. Rain was also harmful to the midsole. The inventor initially covered the entire shoe with a transparent plastic bag. But this detracted from the elegance and beauty of the high end athletic shoe. Also, the plastic bag would fall off the shoe with excessive walking.

After trial and error, the inventor discovered that a band shaped transparent material would follow the midsole around the longitudinal sides of the midsole, to the toebox and the counter heel. However, the material would not stay fastened to the midsole.

The inventor then researched and recognized that a clinging composition of material would contract around the midsole. The inventor found out a polymer, such as vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or a Saran™ class of polymers would remain attached to the dense rubber material from which midsoles are fabricated. The inventor wrapped this polymer material around the midsole, and thus protected the midsole from physical damage and moisture.

Unfortunately, the beauty of the midsole was now covered by the polymer material. The inventor switched to a transparent material. The inventor soon thereafter discovered that the cover still fell off the midsole after excessive walking He developed a rubber band that encircled the cover. The rubber band was soon thereafter made transparent, such that the midsole was visible through the cover and the rubber band.

Shoe covers have been used for protecting shoes or parts of shoes in the past, yet none with the present characteristics of the present invention. See Patent numbers: U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,245; U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,607; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,379.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a shoe barrier that covers a midsole on a shoe to protect against physical damage while still enabling visibility of the midsole.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a shoe barrier that covers a midsole on a shoe. The barrier forms a substantially elongated ring shaped band that is dimensioned to encompass the periphery of the shoe, at the midsole. The band includes an inner surface that engages the midsole by wrapping around the longitudinal sides of the midsole, a toebox, and a heel counter. The band can have a pair of free ends that fasten together. However, in other embodiments, the band is prefabricated into the elongated ring shape and has no free ends. The band forms a thin, transparent layer over the midsole. An outer surface of the band protects the midsole against impact, physical damage, scuff marks, scratches, external elements, moisture, and debris. The outer surface can be coated with a chemical composition that inhibits scoffing and scratching to both the band and the midsole.

The band is fabricated from a substantially clear polymer composition. The polymer composition is sufficiently thick so as to protect the midsole from physical damage; yet also substantially smooth and transparent so as to enable visibility of the midsole. In some embodiments, the polymer composition may be fabricated from a polymer, such as vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or a Saran™ class of polymers. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the aforementioned polymers tend to cling to rubber and plastic materials, from which the midsole is fabricated. Additionally, the transparent characteristics of the polymer composition enables visibility of the midsole. In some embodiments, the polymer composition is sufficiently oxygen permeable, so as to allow the shoe to remain breathable while wrapped by the band.

In some embodiments, at least one elastic member, such as a rubber band, presses the band against the midsole to further secure the band to the shoe. The elastic member extends longitudinally over the band. The band can be removed by removing the elastic member from around the band, and peeling the band from around the midsole.

One objective of the present invention is to protect the midsole of the shoe from physical damage, scuff marks, scratches, external elements, moisture, and debris.

Another objective is to form a secure connection between the inner surface of the band and the midsole without using adhesives or mechanical fasteners.

Yet another objective is to cover the midsole without a noticeable marks on the band, such as wrinkles, streaks, smears, or mechanical fasteners.

Yet another objective is to fabricate the band from a polymer composition that clings to the material composition of the midsole.

Yet another objective is to provide an elastic member that forms an additional wrap around the midsole to further secure the band.

Yet another objective is to enable the band to be adjusted vertically along the midsole.

Yet another objective is to enable facilitated removal of the band from the midsole.

Yet another objective is to provide an inexpensive barrier that can be mass produced relatively quickly.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention mounted on a sneaker; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

One embodiment, referenced in FIGS. 1-X, illustrates a shoe barrier 100 that encompasses a midsole 202 of a shoe 200 to protect against physical damage while still allowing visibility of the midsole 202 through the barrier 100. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the middle sole of an athletic shoe, and especially high end shoes, is often fabricated from a white colored material to differentiate the midsole 202 from a ground surface. The white color also distinguishes the midsole 202 from the upper body of the shoe 200 and the bottom sole of the shoe 200. The white color can also forms a decorative effect, encircling the elongated shape of the shoe 200. However, the white color is easily discolored. The present barrier 100 is effective for protecting the midsole 202 against discoloration and deformation from forceful impacts, scuff marks, scratches, external elements, moisture, and debris.

In some embodiments, the barrier 100 forms a substantially elongated ring shaped band 102 that is dimensioned to encompass the periphery of the shoe 200 around the midsole 202. The band 102 is prefabricated as an elongated ring shape; and thereby has no free ends. The band 102 is defined by an inner surface 104 and an outer surface 106. The band 102 is also defined by a top side 110 and a bottom side 112. The inner surface 104 engages the midsole 202, forming a snug fit thereto. The outer surface 106 can be coated with a chemical composition that inhibits scoffing and scratching to the band 102 while covering the midsole 202.

In some embodiments, the band 102 is fabricated from a substantially clear polymer composition having clinging and transparent characteristics. The capacity of the band 102 to cling through frictional engagement, contraction, and static energy negates the need for visible fasteners that might detract from the natural color and texture of the midsole 202. While some embodiments of the polymer composition are transparent, alternative embodiments could be colored to compliment or completely cover the color of the midsole 202. In one embodiment, the band 102 is between six to fifteen inches long. However, other sizes could be used.

Additionally, the polymer composition is sufficiently thick so as to protect the midsole 202 from physical damage; yet also substantially smooth and transparent so as to enable visibility of the midsole 202. In some embodiments, the polymer composition may be fabricated from a polymer, such as vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or a Saran™ class of polymers. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the aforementioned polymers tend to cling to dense rubber and plastic materials, from which the midsole 202 is fabricated. Additionally, the transparent characteristics of the polymer composition enables visibility of the midsole 202. In some embodiments, the polymer composition is sufficiently oxygen permeable, so as to allow the shoe 200 to remain breathable while wrapped by the band 102. This breathability is especially beneficial for athletic shoes because the feet sweat during physical activity.

In some embodiments, at least one elastic member 108, such as a rubber band, presses the band 102 against the midsole 202 to further secure the band 102 to the shoe 200. The elastic member 108 is fixedly attached to the top side 110 of the band 102 so that it encircles the band 102. The elastic member 108 extends longitudinally over the band 102. Like the band 102, the elastic member 108 is transparent, so as not to detract attention from the midsole 202 and the rest of the shoe 200. The band 102 can be removed by removing the elastic member 108 from around the band 102, and peeling the band 102 from around the midsole 202. The combinative effect of a clinging force created from the polymer composition, and pressure applied by the elastic member 108 securely fasten the band 102 to the midsole 202.

While the inventor's above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several preferred embodiments thereof Many other variations are possible. For example, the barrier 100 could have various colors to enable interchangeable colors for the midsole 202. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A barrier that encompasses a midsole of a shoe that protects against physical damage and enables visibility of the midsole, the barrier comprises: a band defined by an inner surface, an outer surface, a bottom side, and a top side, the inner surface engages the midsole of the shoe, the band having a generally elongated ring shape, the band is made of a polymer that has clinging and transparent characteristics; and an elastic member that is fixedly attached to the top side of the band so that it encircles the band.
 2. The barrier of claim 1, wherein the inner surface engages a longitudinal side of the midsole.
 3. The barrier of claim 2, wherein the band forms an elongated ring shape that is made to run around a circumference of the midsole of the shoe.
 4. The barrier of claim 3, wherein the outer surface is coated with a protective composition that inhibits scuffing and sticking.
 5. The bather of claim 4, wherein the polymer is vinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or a SARAN class of polymers.
 6. The bather of claim 5, wherein the elastic member forms an elongated circular shape.
 7. The barrier of claim 6, wherein the elastic member is placed above the midsole of the shoe.
 8. The bather of claim 7, wherein the band and the elastic member are colored.
 9. The bather of claim 8, wherein the shoe is a sneaker shoe. 